09/11/2025
🍽️ Australian Food Safety Week | 8–15 November 2025
This year’s theme is “Don’t Swallow the Myth – Food Safety Myth Busting” 🛑
Did you know? Each year, 4.67 million Australians get food poisoning — leading to nearly 48,000 hospitalisations and even long-term health issues like reactive arthritis.
✅ Let’s bust some common food safety myths:
• 🧴 Myth: Hand sanitiser is better than handwashing.
Fact: Only soap, water, and thorough drying remove viruses like Norovirus.
• ⏱️ Myth: Food is safe if picked up within 5 seconds.
Fact: Bacteria don’t wait — food dropped on the floor can be contaminated instantly.
• 📅 Myth: Food must be thrown out after its best before date.
Fact: Best before = quality. Use by = safety. Know the difference!
• 🍔 Myth: Burgers can be eaten rare.
Fact: Always cook minced meat (burgers, sausages) to 75°C inside.
• 👃 Myth: You can tell if food is unsafe by smell or taste.
Fact: Harmful bacteria don’t always change smell, taste, or appearance.
• 🍞 Myth: You can just cut mould off food.
Fact: Mould can release toxins through the whole product — best to throw it out.
💡 This Food Safety Week, let’s protect ourselves and our families by knowing the facts — not the myths.
